Prayer of Confession, P4B

Call to Confession

All of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) Let us confess our sin before God and seek God's mercy.

Prayer of Confession

Forgive us, O God.
We plant our seeds of hope in you,
and we despair when we do not see them grow
and bloom
and bear fruit.
Seeds of justice seem to dry up
when the calls for fairness drift on the wind.
Seeds of mercy seem to disappear
when those who need it come from different places --
geographically or politically or theologically or socially --
than us.
Seeds of peace themselves explode
in boiling soil under the white hot blaze
of nationalism
and egocentricity.
We do not listen to your explanations,
do not accept your subverted methodology,
do not wait patiently for your seeds of love to grow
in us,
to change us,
to transform our way of thinking.
Be gracious with us,
and teach us to show grace to others.
Have mercy on us, we pray,
and teach us to be merciful.
Quiet our minds and spirits
that we may hear your still, small voice in the storm
and bear the fruit of peace ourselves
​to a world that longs for hope.

Assurance of God's Grace

God has promised that when we confess our sin, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive us our sin, removing it as far as the east is from the west, and remembering it no more. (1 John 1:9, Psalm 103:12, Hebrews 8:12) In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Thanks be to God!

Since God has forgiven us in Christ, let us also forgive one another.
The peace of Christ be with you.
Please extend the peace of Christ to all whom you encounter this day.